Rejected By the Alpha (Forbidden Alpha Kings #5)

12. Lucas

12

Lucas

The door to my office is once again thrown open, and Simon bursts inside. I groan, getting annoyed with my friend and his unwelcome visits. Ever since our talk in my office three days ago, our friendship has started to mend. He has helped me to keep Pearl, Ruby, and Prism in line when they try to harm a pack member under Marilyn’s orders, as well as helped me keep tabs on Marilyn.

Yesterday, I had to threaten her with destroying the only picture she has of her and her mother if she did not leave the omegas alone. They were not her slaves but the weaker members of the pack, that pick up the slack and perform the menial tasks needed for Oak Fur to function. She did not like that one bit, but Simon had the picture in his left hand and a lighter in his right.

After she conceded, I took the picture with me and told Marilyn she would get it back once we are mated. It sits in my safe under my desk. I promised Marilyn I would send a picture of it every morning to her cellphone as proof it is safe.

Is it a harsh way of keeping her in check? Yes. But it is the only solution I can think of to stop her tyranny in the pack.

“What is it now?” I demand, as I turn away from the budget that has been set for my upcoming wedding, and turn to face him, ready to get whatever he wants to talk about out of the way.

“We just got a report that Silver Paw was attacked. Your dad is excited because the alpha family was killed,” Simon answers. Shocked, I return my focus to my computer and open up my email. Sure enough, Silver Paw was attacked by their rival pack, Shadow Moon, yesterday afternoon. It lists that there was a dispute over a piece of land that Silver Paw bought from the council to expand their pack. Shadow Moon wanted to claim it for their own pack, and the alpha of Silver Paw basically told him tough shit and to fuck off.

“It says here they have a week to find an alpha or the pack will be disbanded and the land seized,” I state, reading further down the email.

“Yeah, but who would want to lead the weakest pack?” Simon asks. The image of Kaylee crosses my mind and I smile. She would want to lead that pack and help it grow stronger. My aunt would do the same thing, too.

“We both know who,” I quietly whisper, shutting off my email and looking to my friend. He looks at me for a moment before smiling, most likely coming to the same conclusion I did.

“She would in a heartbeat,” he agrees sadly. It seems that Kaylee still hasn’t reached out to him, and something inside me breaks. Simon, Kaylee, and I would train together every day after our school and pack duties were completed. She was the light in our lives, and I stupidly listened to my father and rejected her. After ten days of dealing with Marilyn, I am starting to see that not marking Kaylee was the worst decision I have ever made. That telling my father about her being my mate was the second-worst.

“Would you tell me if she contacted you?” I ask him, watching as surprise flashes in his eyes.

“Unless she gave me permission, no. She is like a sister to me, Lucas. I would do anything to protect her.” Jealousy rises inside me, and I force myself to squash it down. I have no right to be jealous of her and Simon’s relationship. The scars that mark my face remind me of that every time I look in the mirror. When she attacked me after I rejected her, I was furious. She was my mate, and I was her future alpha. What pissed me off even more is that she did not get the betrayal mark like I did, all because I broke the mate bond first.

After three days of me brewing in anger and pain from the bond breaking had passed, I realized I deserved everything. I deserved the scars she left on me. Deserved the betrayal mark. I did everything my father wanted me to do, all for the good of Oak Fur, and now I need to sleep in the bed I had made.

“I won’t ask for it. I have a fiancée that I need to focus on,” I mutter. Simon stares at me, as if he wants to ask me something, but decides against it. I know he knows I regret what happened. He also knows I would do it all over again for the safety of the pack.

“Anyways, I heard your father gloating about what happened, and he plans to make a bid for the land in a week’s time if Silver Paw can’t find an alpha. Just wanted to give you the heads up.” With this warning, Simon leaves my office, and I catch the scent of honey before the door closes. Marilyn was listening in on the conversation.

I try for an hour to focus on my work, but thoughts of Kaylee and Silver Paw fill my mind. If Kaylee went anywhere, it would be Silver Paw. I know my uncle has connections there, friends of his he went to school with. If he got into contact with his friends, the friends would go to their alpha and recommend that my aunt and uncle be allowed to join. Add on Kaylee, with beta blood, and it’s a trio of strong wolves joining a weaker pack.

I groan, closing my computer down, and run my hands through my hair. All I have done is think about Kaylee since she left, and I need to stop that. She is no longer mine to want. I have to marry Marilyn.

Knowing I will not be able to focus anymore, I save the files I am currently working on and shut down my computer. It has been days since I last went for a run in wolf form and right now, I desperately need one.

Walking to my office door, I open it slightly, leaving just a small gap before quickly undressing and tucking my clothes into a drawer in my desk. Stretching, I prepare myself to shift, thinking about my black wolf form. Within seconds, my bones have realigned themselves and I stand on all fours.

[If anyone is looking for me, I went for a run,] I link Simon. If no one can find me while I am out, they will look for him.

[Okay.] His reply is short and I scoff, pad to my slightly ajar door, and use my paw to pull it open further. I take the steps three at a time, needing to hurry outside and feel the wind in my fur as soon as possible. I get lucky when I reach the first floor and notice the front doors are open. Taking this as my chance, I let out a bark of warning before rushing outside, noticing some packmates on either side of the steps watching me. I ignore them as my paws carry me to the forest, where I instantly disappear in the shadows the trees provide.

I take a deep breath of the fresh forest air, disappointment filling me when the scent of cinnamon and sugar is no longer there. Kaylee loved the forest. Loved running through the trees. I knew the route she always took when going for her morning and nightly jog. It is the route I am running now.

I wind through trees and shrubs, past a small creek where Simon, Kaylee, and I would splash around as pups. The last place I end up at is the small pond under a willow tree. Kaylee’s favorite tree.

Shaking my head, I try to dispel the thoughts of her, but she is my mate. Each day since the rejection, I find myself thinking about her more and more. Find myself questioning if rejecting her was the right thing or not. My brain tells me I did what I had to. Accepted the orders my father gave me, to protect Oak Fur. But my heart longs for Kaylee. For her laughter and smiles. For the way she moaned my name the night of her birthday.

[Lucas are you okay? You’ve been gone for three hours,] Simon’s voice fills my mind as I walk closer to the pond. Bending down to take a drink, I pause as I notice my reflection. The scars are no longer as red as they were, the skin nearly healed. Even in wolf form, they cover my face, crossing my muzzle.

[Lucas?] Simon calls, and I whimper, backing away from the water and sitting on my haunches.

[I regret it,] I call back, allowing Simon to feel the pain in my words.

[I regret rejecting her.] Silence follows my words but then I hear it.

[It’s too late, man. Kaylee will never take you back.] Closing my eyes I let the honesty of my friend’s words sink in before I reply.

[I know, Simon. I know.]